FE sector branded 'institutionally racist'

The further education sector is "institutionally racist", according to a major three-year study published today.

Research found that despite being better educated than their white colleagues, many black staff failed to progress to senior positions - just 1% of college principals, and less than 7% of FE staff overall, are black.

Black staff, the report said, are more likely to work part-time, be paid by the hour and work to short-term contracts.

The report, produced by the Commission for Black Staff in Further Education, sets out a list of recommendations for the Department for Education and Skills, the learning and skills council, the inspectorates and colleges.

Mike Peters, commission chairman, said: "There is racism in the sector. I believe it amounts to institutional racism. The report has found that the evidence of numbers of black staff as compared with the number of students and population are not representative, therefore you can draw conclusions that there are institutional factors at work."

The report says all agencies and colleges must take steps to address the under-representation of black staff and to establish race equality training. The inspectorates in particular must address "as a matter of urgency" the under-representation of black staff on their books.

Mr Peters summarised the recommendations, saying: "This is about setting up an equalities infrastructure within the sector so that we don't have to organise one-off studies to find this out. So we know it all the time and can act on it."

He added: "I think the aims are achievable. The report has said that this is a marathon, not a sprint. We need to take our time, set targets and constantly review what we're doing and then go back and set targets again."

He said the commission could not be sure how the figures compare with the schools and higher sectors. "The issue in HE is probably even more stark, yet they haven't taken this forward for themselves. I would recommend that they do. I would argue that other sectors need similar sorts of studies."

He added the recommendations would be a practical way of making a reality the new Race Relations Amendment Act, which came into force in September. The act makes all public bodies responsible for monitoring ethnic representation in their workforce, and, for the education sector, among students as well.

Commenting on the findings, Paul Mackney, general secretary of lecturers' union Natfhe said colleges were proud of their record for inclusivity and respect for diversity, although he conceded much of that related to students rather than staff. He said Natfhe and all the agencies involved in FE were committed to meeting the challenges set out in the report. "Race equality must come in from the margins into the mainstream of FE colleges' culture and practice. The impact of this report will be measured in years to come by what affect it has on the lives and prospects of black staff and students, and whether there are broader opportunities for all staff, whatever their level," he said.